Urgent Need to Lobby for India at UNGASS

[Guest guest]

Apology for Duplicate posting in SAATHII/AIDS-India Forum:

Urgent Need to Lobby for India at UNGASS – We need your assistance.

Dear Forum Members,

1. It is exciting time and Sad time in New York. It is exciting

because the whole world will be in New York City, negotiating

political, financial and leadership commitment in fight against

HIV/AIDS at UN General Assembly Meeting between June 25-27.

2. INDIA at UNGASS:

The Health Minister Dr. C. Thakur will head Indian Mission. We are

grateful for his efforts, as he is creating a model for other health

ministers by attending UNGASS session.

We were told that Indian official delegations would consist of two

NGO representatives, one PWA representative and two private sector

representatives.

It is very important that the NGO reps, PWA rep and private sector

reps from the Indian Mission meet with us on daily basis along with

government reps (if feasible) to brief us on general assembly

negotiations. The Civil society can't attend these sessions, and thus

we depend on your briefing.

3.It is sad time because there is very little work towards addressing

HIV/AIDS issues in ASIA. We, several ASIAN /Pacific organizations

(attending UNGASS) including Indian Government are trying to change

this scenario, by holding events that will increase the visibility of

HIV/AIDS issues in ASIA. For those of you who are not with us in New

York, be assured we will keep you updated.

This is a testing period not only for all the sectors working in

India but also for all the ASIAN countries. For few days, we have to

keep our differences aside and chant in unison " 'ASIA NOW " `'MORE

MONEY FOR ASIA'', `DON'T IGNORE ASIA''.

4.The civil society participating and not participating at UNGASS,

will have to continue to negotiate with their governments before they

sign the declaration. We (the civil society of India) still have lot

of work to do.

5. IMPORTANT: The civil society in India has two days until the

health minister leaves New Delhi to New York. After the Indian

delegates arrive in New York, we will take over the lobby efforts in

New York. We will request a briefing from the Indian mission on daily

basis to relay civil society's comments to them. We will continue to

lobby on behalf of Civil society working for/in India.

6.MOST IMPORTANT task at hand all of us have is the following.

We are supposed to have demanded NEW (please note this) major

political and leadership commitment from the Indian Government in

conjunction with the UN general assembly meeting. To ensure that let

us do the following.

Please LIST 3 most important NATIONAL (new) policies that will save

or improve millions of lives AND fax this to

Honorable Health Minister Dr. C. Thakur

Faxing from India: 011 3016648

Faxing from abroad : 91 11 3016648

OR You can send us your list, we will compile the same forward the

same to Health Minister's office with your endorsement or will hand

deliver to him in New York.

Few Policies suggested by the leadership working at the grass root

level:

(1) Enhanced/ accelerated/broader coverage of ethical and quality

Voluntary Counseling & Testing across the country. (time line ??)

2) Provision of voluntary testing and counseling and antiretroviral

therapy to Prevent Mother to Child Transmission (time line –

tomorrow!!)

(3) Immediate revamping of infrastructure for laboratory diagnoses

(quality) and essential care across India, including strengthening of

community based care & support systems which provides ongoing

counseling, referrals, medical care, peer group support

(4) Address issues of stigma & discrimination against PLHAs with

increased awareness in the community. Involvement of PLHAs and civil

society in equal partnership in all aspects of National program

planning and management.

6) Integrating sex/health education in the school education

curriculum.

Don't underestimate what your letter can do! We need to learn the

process of making the government hear us. This is the golden

opportunity !

Thus please fax your recommendations today to the health minister.